The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-02-12
THE WRONG LADY.
A Boys Blunder Regarding Miss
G. H. Smith"

1t was almost too bleak day to think of
Cupids and mating birds, that 18th of
February, and Jamie Smith drew his over
coat up about his ears, nearly concealing
his uniform cap, as he plunged forward
through the whrling snow, quite regardless
of consequences. Jamie was New York
messenger-boy, IN the regular service, and
he knew from past experience that he
would have his hands full this Valentines
day carrying sweet missives, bonbon boxes
and flowers about, so there wasn't bit of
use in fretting over the weather AS he
tore around the corner, head bent forward
and eyes on the ground, he felt a sudden
shock and found himself sitting down very
hard on the sidewalk, while directly op-
poslte in the same posture, and making a
great ado over it, was a lady of uncertain
age and contorted visage.
"You hateful, ha-ateful boy!" she cried,
clutching at the empty air in her frantic
efforts to rise. "What do you mean, run
ming into people so! o dearr' and she
seemed about to cry.
Full of laughter as he felt, Jamie was q
little gentleman, so he sprang to his feet
and, holding out hand to the struggling
lady, said very politely:
II beg your pardon, ma'am, but | didn't
see YOU at all; won't you let me help YOU
ups"
little Modified, she permitted him to
assist her, after which he brushed the
blackened snow from her sealskin cloak,
and watched her travel on, thinking what a
crabbed-loolSing creature she was, but with
cut an idea that he should ever see her
again. All the morning he darted back and
forth, now boarding street-car now on
the elevated road, once springing up the
gang-way of a steamer, Just before she
cleared her mornings, with some last miss
i've from home to an outbound passenger
till noon found him in a cheap restaurant
swallowing his lunch, anaconda-like, at a
stand-up counter, ready to be off again
without wasting minute.
But all through the busy dav one thought
kept him satisfied and cheerful-thet thought
of the dainty, scented valentine he was car
irving in his breast pocket for Celia He had
planned dozen times just how he would
steal up TO the door and ring the bell, leav-
ing the envelope on the steps, then run
quickly around the corner and hide, soon to
come in carelessiy whistling, as if Just
from the streot-car How to keep back long
enough not to excite her suspicious and vet
come soon enough to see her surprised face
was quandary-but Jamie could solve it if
any one, for he was used to planning pleas
ures for Celia.
The little Smiths were orphans, and kept
house alone IN a funny. doll-baby way, in
two rooms Of a small cottage. tenanted by
a young l-borer and his wife, who took an
interest in the children, and Strengthened
out the housekeeping sometimes, when
things got into "a tangle Celia went TO
school when she was well enough---she was
not very strong-so Jamie took his lunches
downtown, ION the fly,n as he expressed
it, but She was always home to have coy
little supper ready by six o'clock, and then,
how their tongues would clatter as they
told each other all the remarkable events
OF the day.
1t WAS lllte da, as Jamie hurried ON his